The Perfect Christmas: With Bonus Material Added Read online

  Was it possible she could forgive him? He certainly didn’t deserve it; he knew that much.

  When she’d learned of his duplicity, she’d become physically ill. She’d flinched from his touch.

  “I understand the countess has invited a number of available females, M’Lord.” Of course, Martin would have no reticence in pointing something so personal out to Henry.

  “And why should this be of any concern to me?” Henry attempted with a lift of his eyebrow.

  Only Martin wasn’t having it and merely laughed. “That Miss Cline, the lady from the inn, she’s a pretty one, too, if one looks past her spectacles and fashion sense.”

  Henry took the towel from Martin’s hand and dried his face. “Miss Cline is a fine woman.”

  Again, his valet laughed.

  Henry merely shook his head. Difficult to stare down a servant who had saved you from more than one walloping when you were still in short pants. Smoothing the lapels of his jacket, Henry took one last look in the mirror.

  And again, anticipation filled him.

  Chapter Nine

  Eligible bachelors and unmarried ladies

  Henry stared across the room at Lady Kingsley, who was snuggling her infant nephew against her shoulder. The new mama, the Duchess of Crawford, stood by with an adoring look on her face. It was rumored the newly married countess was with child herself.

  “I’ve never seen Olivia so happy.”

  He turned around to nod in agreement but then froze.

  He’d known Eliza was something of a beauty, with her perfectly classic features and expressive eyes but tonight…

  Tonight, she looked stunning.

  Dressed in a high-waisted emerald gown made of a material that gently embraced her curves, she took his breath away. Gone was the tight chignon knotted at the back of her head. Instead, her hair had been curled and pinned up. A few delicate tendrils had been left free to caress the curve of her cheek quite effectively, leading his gaze to her elegant shoulders and neck.

  “Lady Kingsley,” she added. “She’s glowing.”

  But he could not drag his eyes away from the woman before him. “You… look different.” Oh, hell, but he’d spent too much time away from civilized company.

  At his comment, she self-consciously touched her hair and dropped her lashes as though suddenly uncertain of herself.

  “No.” He reached his hand out to pull hers back down. “You look beautiful.” His eyes searched her face before trailing down to her décolletage. And lower. “Stunning.”

  “Olivia provided the gown. And the maid…” She stared down at the carpet.

  And the realization hit him.

  This woman had no understanding as to her beauty. And he wondered, was he to blame for this as well? It was only right he acknowledge the destruction he’d wrecked. And there was no atoning for it.

  “It is perfect.”

  She lifted her lashes and met his gaze, uncertain but also with a bit of wonder.

  “Miss Cline! I almost didn’t recognize you without your spectacles.” Neither had been aware of the duchess approaching to greet them. Henry had met Crawford’s wife on a few occasions while in London last spring and found her to be a lovely woman in her own right. He made a deep bow.

  “Your Grace.” Miss Cline dropped into a curtsey. “The baby is beautiful.”

  The youthful duchess laughed in pleasure. “He looks just like his father. He’s finally sleeping all night and that makes him even more beautiful to me, let me assure you.” And then she took hold of Miss Cline’s arm. “The boys are thrilled that they’ll have an opportunity to see you. I hope you won’t mind that I promised you’d be visiting the nursery. Michael was particularly excited.”

  Henry remembered hearing that the Duke and Duchess of Crawford had taken in a handful of urchins. Rumor was that the children had been left orphans after a tragedy that occurred on the duchess’s father’s property.

  Miss Cline smiled graciously. “I do miss them, and I’ve every intention of spending a good deal of my time with the children while I am here.”

  At his curious glance, the duchess provided some explanation. “His Grace and I have four other boys in addition to our little marquess. When the Smith children first lost their mother, and then their father, Miss Cline and my sister helped care for them before Crawford and I took them in.” The duchess smiled. “They’re a handful but every day we count our blessings. Our home is much happier with the laughter of children. And for the next few weeks, what with all the young people in residence, I imagine Sky Manor will be the happiest place on earth.”

  “It certainly will not be the quietest.” But Miss Cline smiled kindly at the duchess.

  As the vicar’s sister, Miss Cline had obviously lived her adult life as something of an angel of mercy. Her natural ease with Charlotte made more sense to him now.

  “Lord Crestwood has two children as well, only they aren’t exactly children, are they? I believe his daughter is already becoming fast friends with Cora and Martha.”

  “My daughter is five and ten and my son nearly eight and ten,” he provided vaguely, all the while watching Miss Cline deftly make conversation with one of England’s highest-ranking women.

  So very poised but also distant, almost as though it were she who was the duchess.

  He wondered if she was ever lonely.

  Two gentlemen approached just then and bowed. One he recognized immediately as the Duke of Crawford, and the other man was Mr. Gilbert Fellowes.

  “Miss Cline. May I present Mr. Gilbert Fellowes? One of Kingsley’s brothers.” The duchess made the introduction.

  Fellowes made his bow to Miss Cline, lifting her gloved hand nearly to his lips.

  A pang of regret struck Henry. His cousin was a fine gentleman of good character. If she wished to have a family of her own, leave her brother’s home, the earl’s brother would be an excellent match for her. He stepped backward and then excused himself. Many house parties were prime husband-hunting grounds. He could not be part of the game.

  Best to stay out of the crossfire.

  * * *

  He’d called her beautiful. Eliza’s heart raced as she did her best to speak coherently to the duchess, her husband, and Mr. Fellowes.

  Mr. Fellowes resembled his brother, the earl, a great deal but not in all ways. Both his hair and his eyes were lighter than the earl’s. And he lacked the devil-may-care attitude his brother had exhibited while courting Olivia. His serious demeanor was calming. As she spoke with him, Lord Crestwood excused himself for other conversation.

  “The countess has been singing your praises for as long as I’ve known her. As happy as she’s been here at Sky Manor, I know she misses her sister and you a great deal.” Mr. Fellowes’ voice drew her attention away from the man across the room. Lord Crestwood had located the Dowager Countess of Kingsley, drawing a pleased smile from the older woman. Eliza had never been called beautiful by anyone.

  Except him.

  Before.

  “Miss Cline?”

  “Ah, yes, the sisters are quite close. I imagine they will remain so even though the countess no longer lives in Misty Brooke. It is not that long of a distance. A day’s drive. Have you visited Crawford’s estate, Ashton Acres?” Eliza did her best to keep her eyes focused on her present companion.

  “I have not, but I now realize that perhaps I’ve been missing out on other delights to be found in the small village.”

  “Excuse me?” It took a moment for Mr. Fellowes’ words to sink in. Did he mean her?

  He smiled, and his light brown eyes held hers. “Indeed.”

  He was flirting with her! She scanned the room and found Olivia watching her with a gleam in her eyes. A slow smile spread across her friend’s mouth as her hand cradled the head of her sister’s infant son beneath her chin.

  Eliza raised her brows in question, and Olivia dipped her chin ever so slightly.

  The dress, the maid, Lord Crestwood. Olivia had pl
anned all of this. She was providing Eliza with an opportunity to look for a husband, the matchmaking minx! Didn’t she know that ladies such as herself, ladies close to their third decade, for heaven’s sake, were not considered marriageable? Just as Eliza went to shake her head, Mr. Fellowes spoke again.

  “My sister-in-law says you assist your brother with his parish. I find that most admirable.”

  Pleasure spread through her at the compliment. She did not go about her normal duties because her brother expected her to. She did so because it brought her genuine satisfaction. After a few weeks of wallowing in self-pity after Matthew had thrown her out and Henry had disappeared, she’d eventually realized that doing good for others made her feel… not deserving but not despicable either. She had discovered some self-respect again.

  “I thank you, but there is nothing admirable about bringing myself pleasure.” And with a furtive glance in Lord Crestwood’s direction, she found herself wondering if he could had ever forgiven himself.

  “It is admirable, nonetheless. You have nothing to drink. May I procure you something before we go into dinner?”

  Mr. Fellowes, she realized at that moment, was quite a good-looking man. And he seemed intent upon gaining her favor.

  She smiled. “That would be lovely, thank you.”

  She was not left alone, however, as another of the earl’s brothers, a younger man, approached with Olivia at his side. Olivia made introductions and then a few other gentlemen approached. Eliza nodded and smiled. Surely, all of this was Olivia’s doing. She’d probably even asked her brothers-in-law to make certain her poor spinster friend did not feel left out.

  But it was nice.

  To be seen.

  Chapter Ten

  Confusing corridors

  After the meal, a magnificent affair with more courses than Eliza deemed prudent, the ladies rose to return to the drawing-room, leaving the men alone to take their port.

  As they strolled through the corridor, Olivia took hold of Eliza’s arm from behind and pulled her close. “You can swallow your disapproval. I’ll have you know that the food not consumed tonight will be made available for the servants.” How well Olivia understood her.

  Eliza chuckled. “It was the most delectable meal of my life,” she conceded.

  “And what of the gentlemen? I’m sure by now that you’ve guessed my ulterior motive for inviting you? Not that I am not simply pleased to have your company, but… do you find any of them to be… delectable?”

  Lord Crestwood’s face immediately came to mind.

  Olivia leaned forward to look into Eliza’s face as they walked. “You do! Is it Gilbert? Mr. Fellowes?”

  Eliza clamped her mouth together. “Olivia, I am not discussing this.” And then she added, “My Lady.”

  Olivia slapped her arm. “I am Olivia, and you are Eliza. I’ll not have one of my best friends in the world my-ladying me.”

  Her dear friend had not changed at all.

  Aside from being happier. And more confident.

  Born with a crossed eye, Olivia had been self-conscious of it for as long as Eliza had known her. And Olivia’s parents, the Viscount and Viscountess Hallowell, had exacerbated their daughter’s apprehensions, making her shyer and more inhibited than what ought to have been natural for her.

  Lord Kingsley had managed to squash the shame Olivia had cloaked herself in before. Eliza would be forever grateful to him for that.

  “I’m too old to be thinking of any gentlemen as delectable,” Eliza said disdainfully, wishing she had not left her spectacles back in her chamber. When the maid had suggested she did so, Eliza had been so caught up by the dress, and her hair…

  Foolish of her. Fancy dress or not, she was a spinster—a ruined one at that.

  “Fiddlesticks!” Eliza did not have to turn her head to see that Olivia was scowling. “Is he the same as before? He is unmarried now.”

  Olivia had remembered! Of course, she was referring to Lord Crestwood. The fact that Olivia was now privy that Eliza’s fling from the past had been with a married man was chilling.

  The secret was not hers alone. Had Olivia guessed the extent of her ruin?

  Glancing around to make certain no one could overhear them, Eliza felt the need to supply some explanation. “I did not know he was married!” she half-whispered. “And there is more to it than meets the eye.”

  Olivia stared at her in wide-eyed innocence. “I am no one to judge. And I am aware that his wife had been incapacitated. I merely wondered if the two of you…?”

  “If we’d what?”

  Olivia shrugged. “Still… found one another… interesting?”

  “Shhh!” Eliza glanced around again, relieved to see that none of the other ladies seemed interested in their conversation.

  “You do!” Olivia accused. It was impossible for Eliza to be angry with Olivia though. It was impossible for anyone to stay angry with her. She was just so… Olivia.

  Eliza winced. “He lied to me. And then he…” Where had all of her outrage and anger gone? She could not blame him for seducing her. She had been an equal participant. Yes, he had lied. But as she’d just told Olivia, there had been extenuating circumstances…

  “Too much has passed between the two of us for anything to ever…” Why was she even entertaining this conversation? “Mr. Fellowes seems like a kind enough gentleman.”

  She slid Olivia a sideways glance and found her friend studying her skeptically.

  “Gilbert is indeed a man of good character. And if you’ve any doubt, I did not ask him to single you out. I have not asked anyone to do so.”

  “When did you begin reading my mind?”

  Olivia squeezed Eliza’s arm. “I always have. I just never let on about it…”

  Eliza hadn’t realized how much she’d missed her friend. Another lady who understood her so well. Before Olivia’s marriage, she and Eliza had had a great deal in common. Neither had allowed themselves to consider any possibilities regarding marriage and family. They’d both resigned themselves to living out their lives as spinsters. But now that Olivia was entrenched in a loving marriage and soon motherhood…

  Eliza was lonely. And for the first time in a dozen years, she wondered if she, too, might find some kind gentleman to settle down with.

  The hope frightened her though. Disappointment was worse, sometimes, than not having any expectations to begin with.

  Oh, but hope could be a lovely thing…

  The drawing room transformed into a hive of activity as the other ladies milled about, some gathering around the pianoforte, others clustering into small groups.

  As the hostess, Olivia was required to attend to all of her other guests, not just her oldest and dearest friend, and so Eliza excused her to her duties.

  All of this talking and meeting new people was really quite exhausting! The socializing was so very different when done outside of her own little world.

  Normally, she would have slipped outside, found refuge in Sky Manor’s extensive gardens, but it was mid-December. She’d need to fetch her coat and a warm bonnet.

  Would Olivia be offended if Eliza retired early?

  With a hesitant glance around the room, she surmised that Olivia would likely be none the wiser.

  Having made her decision, Eliza edged her way to the door and slipped out. She may have become more visible to a few of the gentlemen, but most of the other ladies still saw her as quite invisible. Not that anyone had been unkind or mean-spirited; quite the opposite, in fact. But she was not one of them; she was a vicar’s sister. It was possible they expected her to begin quoting scripture if they deigned to start up a conversation with her.

  If they only knew…

  Out of sight, Eliza turned in the direction she believed her chamber to be and made her way determinedly through the castle.

  At first, the adornments and corridors seemed quite familiar, but without her spectacles, she could not be certain. The farther she went, the less confident she became.
And after turning back more than once only to find herself in unfamiliar surroundings, a vague panic set in.

  She was lost.

  She had thought she had climbed the same staircase she’d descended earlier. But… had she?

  Taking a deep breath, she determined not to panic. She was quite safe; she’d only gotten herself turned around a few times. Catching sight of a window, she thought to calibrate her location by looking outside, but… It was so very dark already; she couldn’t decide whether she was looking to the east or the west.

  Another deep breath.

  A few more unsuccessful attempts to discover more recognizable landmarks and panic swooped in on her again.

  * * *

  Henry would not seek Miss Cline out. He’d already decided upon this when the gentlemen, finished with their port now, strolled between the dining room and the drawing-room where the ladies awaited them.

  She’d caught the attention of more than one very eligible gentleman already, and Henry would not do anything to ruin her prospects.

  He’d already done his share of that. It only proved her kindhearted nature that she deigned to treat him civilly. Nonetheless, when he stepped into the crowded room, his gaze immediately searched for the emerald of her gown.

  Unable to locate her right off, he worked his way around various clusters of conversations so that he could assure himself that she was not overwhelmed or being made uncomfortable by any of the other guests—particularly the gentlemen.

  He knew well enough that not all men of the ton always acted honorably.

  By the time he’d covered the entire perimeter, he’d yet to have found her. Perhaps she’d gone to the retiring room?

  He endured the company of one elderly gentleman, but when Lady Kingsley crossed over to present him to Lady Lillian, Crawford’s oldest sister, he could not help but inquire as to where Miss Cline might have gone.

  A curious expression crossed her face before she answered him. “She was here earlier. She might be tired from the travel today. I put her in the west tower of the Elizabethan wing.” She lowered her brows in concern. “I do hope she didn’t have difficulty locating her chamber. It’s easy to get lost until one has become familiar.”